Americus

AMERICUS

My take:
At first, I was underwhelmed by the author’s portrayal of Neil the main character’s seeming cliched teenage angst. But that was just setting the stage for the wallop that came in later pages. This nifty graphic tale skewers teenagers, grown-ups, small-town life, as well as high school life. But the deepest skewering is saved for book banning and its proponents. I couldn’t put this one down.

Neal Barton just wants to read in peace.Unluckily for him, some local Christian activists are trying to get his favorite fantasy series banned from the Americus public library on grounds of immoral content and heresy. Something has to be done, and it looks like quiet, shy Neal is going to have to do it. With youth services librarian Charlotte Murphy at his back, Neal finds himself leading the charge to defend the mega-bestselling fantasy series that makes his life worth living.